Judge Orders Faith Evans to Pay $12.5 Million to Trust

A court ruling mandates that the singer compensate the estate of Voletta Wallace regarding the Notorious B.I.G. catalog.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a towering architectural arch, evoking the solemnity of a major court ruling. — Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick has ordered Faith Evans to pay $12.5 million to the estate of the late Voletta Wallace. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick has ordered Faith Evans to pay $12.5 million to the trust of the late Voletta Wallace. This ruling concludes a legal dispute over proceeds from the Notorious B.I.G. music catalog that were allegedly withheld.

Why it matters

The judgment addresses long-standing claims that the trust was improperly excluded from LLC distributions despite being a foundational member of the business. The court affirmed that the trust is entitled to payments dating back to the passing of Voletta Wallace.

The court judgment mandates a total payment of $12,518,336 to the Voletta Wallace trust. This amount significantly exceeds the $48,612 limit that Faith Evans unsuccessfully argued the court should impose.

The players

Faith Evans

An American singer and songwriter who co-founded Notorious B.I.G., LLC to manage the intellectual property of the late rapper.

Voletta Wallace

The mother of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. and a co-founder of the entity managing his professional estate.

Kathaleen St. J. McCormick

The judge presiding over the litigation concerning the management and financial distribution of the Notorious B.I.G. catalog.

Wayne Barrow

The individual who filed the lawsuit seeking the distribution of proceeds from the music catalog to the trust.

The details

The lawsuit, filed by Wayne Barrow, centered on Faith Evans failing to recognize the trust as a member of Notorious B.I.G., LLC. The court ultimately determined that the trust executed the necessary instruments to participate in the LLC on December 12, 2025.

2007: Faith Evans and Voletta Wallace founded Notorious B.I.G., LLC.
2025: Voletta Wallace passed away.
December 12, 2025: The trust officially became a member of the LLC.
October 27, 2026: Judge McCormick filed the ruling.

Industry Dynamics

This case highlights the complex legal oversight required in managing the intellectual property of iconic recording artists after their passing. The dispute follows a pattern of high-stakes litigation involving music catalogs and the rights of heirs to ongoing royalty distributions.

This legal outcome does not change how fans consume the music of Notorious B.I.G. across streaming platforms. The decision strictly impacts the internal financial distribution between the founders and beneficiaries of the business entity.

The takeaway

Disputes over legacy music catalogs often hinge on the technical compliance with LLC operating agreements and the definition of membership rights. Parties involved in estate-related business ventures should ensure all administrative instruments are current to avoid significant retroactive financial liability.